[Lovers India] Christmas Cheers

The bells of waiting Advent ring,



The Tortoise stove is lit again



And lamp-oil light across the night



Has caught the streaks of winter rain.







In many a stained-glass window sheen



From Crimson Lake to Hooker's Green.



The holly in the windy hedge



And round the Manor House the yew







Will soon be stripped to deck the ledge,


The altar, font and arch and pew,


So that villagers can say


'The Church looks nice' on Christmas Day.






Provincial public houses blaze



And Corporation tramcars clang,



On lighted tenements I gaze



Where paper decorations hang,



And bunting in the red Town Hall



Says 'Merry Christmas to you all'




And London shops on Christmas Eve



Are strung with silver bells and flowers



As hurrying clerks the City leave



To pigeon-haunted classic towers,



And marbled clouds go scudding by



The many-steepled London sky.






And girls in slacks remember Dad,


And oafish louts remember Mum,


And sleepless children's hearts are glad,


And Christmas morning bells say 'Come!'




Even to shining ones who dwell


Safe in the Dorchester Hotel.


And is it true? and is it true?





The most tremendous tale of all,



Seen in a stained-glass window's hue,



A Baby in an ox's stall?





The Maker of the stars and sea


Become a Child on earth for me?




And is it true?


For if it is,







No loving fingers tying strings


Around those tissued fripperies,


The sweet and silly Christmas things,


Bath salts and inexpensive scent


And hideous tie so kindly meant.





No love that in a family dwells,


No carolling in frosty air,


Nor all the steeple-shaking bells


Can with this single Truth compare -


That God was Man in Palestine


And lives to-day in Bread and Wine.

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